Between Gasps and Glances

Chapter 9 - FRIENDS?

Noelle's POV

“I…uhm…” I looked around. I couldn't run up the stairs and to my room, because Damian was standing in the way, and since I couldn't risk doing anything else so I didn't have to embarrass myself any further.

“I was heading to the kitchen,” I scurried away, taking really deep breaths.

“What do you think you're doing?” I heard Damian question, his voice in a whisper.

“Common, I was just playing with her.” Theo was very quick with his response, “you think I'd have anything to do with her?”

The men went up the stairs and their conversation became distant and I could no longer hear them.

I took a deep breath and leaned on the counter.

‘How stupid can you be? What were you thinking?” I scolded myself.

The thoughts of Jace crossed my mind and I instantly felt horrible. Usually, I would call him to talk about how I just made a fool of myself, but it didn't feel like I could. The wounds were all too fresh.

I picked up a mop bucket and a broom and went back to the dining room to clean. I carefully picked up the shards of glass from the floor and while I was at it, I noticed the jug handle had a thin slice around it.

It had been years for me around kitchen ware, so I knew for a fact that someone had sliced through the glass and it was heading straight for disaster no matter who picked it up.

‘Someone tried to sabotage me,’ I thought, ‘but who? And why?’ I was immediately thrown into a state of worry.

I stared intently at every glass piece and no matter how I decided to think, it still arrived at the same conclusion. This was very deliberate.

A million thoughts crossed my mind, but when the one that seemed more fitting to me crossed my mind, I wore a broad smile and immediately got to work.

*****

“What is all this?” Brielle queried, as all three of them descended the stairs into the dining room.

“I figured, since we all skipped lunch, the very least I could do was make a nice dinner,” I said.

I couldn't wipe the smile on my face for as long as they had that delightful awe on theirs. I had worked all evening to serve seven different dishes from appetizer to desert.

Damian looked at me with a smile and was the first to take his seat at the table. Theo followed suit and of course, Brielle.

They all were quiet and no one made small talk all through dinner and I was just glad that they weren't complaining either.

I didn't join in the meal, I stood by the corner and watched all of them eat to their fill and leave the table one after the other. However, all through dinner, I could not help but notice how Brielle could not take her eyes off me.

‘What is wrong with everyone in this house?’ I thought. I wished they used their words more often, but clearly, they preferred weird glances, gazes and glares.

“This is really beautiful, Noelle,” Theo said, being the first to finish his meal.

“I have no appetite,” Brielle threw down her cutlery and rushed back upstairs.

I couldn't place my hands on why she was so pissed, but I didn't want to get into it.

Theo went upstairs not very long after her and I almost followed, because the mere thought of being alone in a room with Damian sickened me.

It took a lot of courage and of course, a thousand glares, but he was finally done and got up on his feet to leave the table.

“Mr. Hayes,” I called, as he turned his back. Damian did not respond or turn around, but he stood still.

“I'm sorry about your mother's jug,” I said, “I'm sure it was worth a fortune,”

“You're right,” he swiftly responded, “it did cost a fortune, but you're clumsy and it wouldn't be the first time I've seen you break stuff that is worth a fortune,”

I bowed my head to the floor. This was a little too much for me to bear. I waited for him to go up the stairs, before clearing out the table.

I was too ashamed to go back upstairs and I was beginning to rethink my decision to stay here. The person I believed I was here for had barely said five sentences to me and even if he were to say anything to me, it was either going to be condescending or outright insulting.

“Noelle, a word?” I didn't bother to turn around, since I could comfortably recognize her betraying voice.

“Can I do something for you, Miss. Hayes?” I probed.

“I believe I have something to be sorry for,”

“Why? Because your plan to sabotage me failed?” I made sure to be firm, because I wasn't going to let her walk all over me.

“For over two decades it's been just my brother and myself,” she said, “I was only gone a few weeks, so you understand my shock when I return to find someone else here.”

“I'm only here to do my job,” I said,

“And clearly, you do quite a beautiful job,” Brielle took a few steps closer.

“I'm sorry I tried to paint you incompetent in front of Damian,”

I was staring deep into her eyes and I could not still wave away that feeling–the feeling that her words and the energy that radiated from her were in contrast. I wanted to believe her, but I couldn't.

“Damian already thinks I'm stupid enough. You needed no extra effort,” I dropped the dish sponge angrily.

“Noelle, please,”

I had made up my mind to leave whilst I was doing the dishes. I wasn't sure her plea or all her lying words were changing anything for me.

“Let's start fresh.” She extended a handshake, “what do you say? Friends?”